Pa ge 1 0 T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 22 , 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM REGISTRATION FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR Kindergarten is a 2 year Program. Advanced registration for those children who will be attending Year 1 (Junior Kindergarten) or will be new to Year 2 (Senior Kindergarten) in Halton Catholic elementary schools will be held on: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 & Wednesday, January 28, 2015 9:00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Year 1 (JK): Children must be 4 years of age on or before December 31, 2015. Year 2 (SK): Children must be 5 years of age on or before December 31, 2015. Please Note: Children currently registered in Year 1 (Junior Kindergarten) are not required to register for Year 2 (Senior Kindergarten). Placement in the Year 2 (Senior Kindergarten) program will be processed by the school, unless otherwise notified by the parent(s)/guardian(s). The Kindergarten Program will be offered at 45 elementary schools across the Board in 2015-2016. To determine your home school, the requirements for registration and more, please visit: www.hcdsb.org. For language assistance regarding registration, please contact Halton Multicultural Council 905-464-3187. Si requiere de asistencia con el lenguaje para inscribirse, por favor contactar al Halton Multicultural Council 905-464-3187. Jezeli panstwo potrzebujq pomocy j zykowej w rejestrowaniu, prosz skontaktowac si z Halton Multicultural Council 905-464-3187. Para assistencia na sua lingua a fins de registo, favor contactar Halton Multicultural Council 905-464-3187. Jane Michael Chair of the Board Paula Dawson Director of Education NEWS Mayor in Quebec to spread Buy America unfairness message Mayor Rick Bonnette, a leading and long- time opponent to the Buy America Act, was in Quebec on Tuesday for a media event to further press for the end of this discrimina- tory practice. Two news conferences were held on Jan. 20, the first in Montreal in the morn- ing, and a second in Quebec City. The event is being organized by the Partners of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (PICCA) and started as a Quebec initiative. Bonnette was invited to participate by Hellen Christodoulou of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, which is co-ordinating PICCA, who wrote, "You are considered a trendsetter by tak- ing a stand on local procurement and I admire your vision." One of the key goals of PICCA is to: "actively defend on behalf of the Cana- dian steel industry, free and fair trade, for an open and com- petitive market in the procurement prac- tices at the federal, provincial and munici- pal levels." Bonnette was joined at the news confer- ence by Halton Hills Regional Councillor Clark Somerville. In his role as second vice- president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Somerville has also been an advocate for ending the "Buy Ameri- can" legislation. The Town's Economic Development Officer, Doug Penrice, also attended. "This Buy America Act continues to cost Canada important and vital jobs. We will not stop speaking out against this legisla- tion until we see this practice end," said Bonnette. In spite of the exemption for Canada provided in 2009, the U.S. passed new legislation last year that would require only American-made products would be eligible for projects using federal and state funding. Last summer, Halton Hills took a lead- ership role, as it did in 2009, when the original exemption was won, by writing to Canadian and U.S. legislators outlining the unfairness of the Buy American policy. As it stands now, while Canadian com- panies are barred from bidding on U.S. projects, American companies are winning Canadian contracts, leading to losses of Canadian jobs. A week before Christmas, Mueller Canada, producer of man- hole covers, closed down, putting 71 Canadians out of work. The closure was a direct result of the Buy Ameri- can provisions. "This is another example of the toll that Buy American protectionism is taking away manufactur- ing jobs in Canada," said CME President and CEO Jayson Myers. "It is grossly unfair that American companies can freely do business in Canada but Canadian manu- facturers are locked out of municipal pro- curement contracts in the United States." Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is Canada's largest trade and indus- try association, and the voice of manufac- turing and global business in Canada. "If our governments fail to act, we will see Buy American kill more Canadian jobs- just like the 71 jobs lost in St-Jérôme," he added. "It's time we stand against this sort of naked protectionism. Reciprocity would be an effective way to keep trade flowing in both countries." Mayor Rick Bonnette (far right) was invited to be part of the panel at a Partners of the Canadian In- stitute of Steel Construction pressing for reform of the Buy America policy that is hurting Canadian businesses. Once again the Town of Halton Hills is leading the initiative to press for a Canadian exemption. Photo by Councillor Clark Somerville 'This Buy America Act continues to cost Canada important and vital jobs - Mayor Rick Bonnette-